Police Beat
The Lawrence police department puts out a clipboard with the most recent incident reports each morning (usually by 10 a.m.) in the second floor lobby at the police department (111 E. 11th Street). This is our opportunity to catch up on overnight crime.
Reporters enrolled in multimedia reporting sign up at the beginning of the semester to check the police log and follow up with any questions.
Before you go to the police station call the multimedia newsroom at 864-0651 at about 9:30 to see if there is anything we are looking for or specific questions you need to follow up.
Get to the police department about 9:45. First check the clipboard. This log lists the activities of officers on duty during the previous 24 hours. If you see something you think is news, write down the case number and make notes so you can write an email report - if need be.
While you are checking the reports, the police department public information officer is writing up her own version of police briefs to post online at the police site. On Mondays or after three-day weekends the clipboard may be late coming out. Wait for a reasonable amount of time and then, if the clipboard isn’t ready, just bag it and leave. You should continue to check the police site during the day and alert Dick Nelson by email when the stories go up.
Be alert. Look for the unusual, even though it might seem minor. Remember that KUJH covers the entire community. Don’t just look for student-related crime. Look for the big cases. Obviously be alert for major crimes or accidents, things such as armed robberies, murders and serious traffic accidents with injuries or deaths. Ask questions if you don’t understand something.
After you have checked the incident reports get to a computer so you can check the cop posts and file your own report. Go to the police news site (http://lawrencepolice.org/) and click on “community information” and then on “view reports.” Look for both the “report briefs” and “arrest log” for the present date. If you have any other reports that aren’t in the police briefs, write those up in an email to Dick Nelson (dnelson@ku.edu). If the police reports aren’t online yet, give us what you found. Even if the police reports are online and you have nothing to add, at least email Dick to let him know you looked at the incident reports. In the subject line put “Police Beat.”
If you have questions about reports that aren’t answered in the police briefs or from the incident reports, you can call the Police Public Information Officer, Kim Murphree, at 832-7525. Or page her at 691-3161. If she is curt or condescending, don’t worry about it. Just ask your questions.
Your email report does not need to be in story form as long as it’s clear and understandable. Note things that may need further checking. You don’t have to repeat things posted on the police site, but you need to look them over because you might see something that the PIO did not put in the official version. Please have everything wrapped up before noon.